Auction warehouse



Feb- 21, 1933. D. w. BRASHEAR AUCTION WAREHOUSE Filed May 23, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

WM MW MM oooo mvo F Wa/a 4.5 Mr/15Min BY 5 W Feb. 21, 1933. D. w. BRASHEAR AUCT I ON WAREHOUSE Filed May 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. z/aa@ Wr/15H54 BY wr/7 W we@ A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 21, 1933. D. w. BRAsHEAR AUCT I ON WAREHOUSE Filed May 23, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 2l, 1933. D, w. BRAsHEAR 1,898,421

AUCTION WAREHOUSE Filed May 23, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lil;

BYJQW 74M ATTORNEYS Feb. 21, 1933. D. w BRASHEAR AUCT ION WAREHOUSE Filed May 23, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY P'NT FFQ m W. BRASHEAR, F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA AUCTION WAREHOUSE Application filed May 23, 1930. Serial No. 454,992.

present. inventionrelates to auction ,ivarehoiisieslaiidvjnore particularly to Ware- `hogusesrfroirrv-which leaf ltobacco is sold at utoh., According to thepractice now universally .,Qemplbyedinlthe selling of leaf tobacco, cenfltral Warehouses, are provided in the different tobaccofgrojvving sections of the country from ..Wliich ,'th-eftobacco is sold. The tobacco I mffaimers bring their cured tobacco to these f Vvvarehouses during the selling season. They gradethe tobaccoaccording to quality ,`!'in.th,c"fcustbinaryl v'vay'and When reaching the 1.I3.vvanelio'useit ispla'ced into relatively large Vand Vs'. lall'w.tray-like baskets, each holding J"zp'illyigvllere,,Kfrom, fifteen to several hundred `,pnund`s. v`'Each basket carries a removable orcgirdgiusilally in triplicate, bearing the fjhasket'nuniben the name of the grower and ZStheQua'nt-y of .tobacco in pounds contained '..(thfe salestakingplace While the group is yva'lking'gf, As each basket of tobacco is sold "the clerk marks on'ithetag orcard the price i. pe'r` fpound,l`name of thel buyer and the grade oftfoblaco.' The tag is then replaced on the Qther clerks, following the group, ,leiiter. in"lbooks andon'bills of sale lthe iny 'form'afLionl,sllfovvnl on the tags'j- This pro- A'dunecontinues until all the tobacco in the 4W, ske'ts Yiifhtlie ffloorbhasbeen sold, and the f ,gbasketsQy/fith Athe tobacco therein are then fffcollectedlbyglhe yarious buyers and the tobacc'o isV placed ,truckshand carted to the private `Warehouses the buyers, after affresh supply/ofbaskets with tobacco T ",.islar ontlie Warehouse floor as before ,Q andfhe procedure isfvrepeated 'from day to Qglayl until-',lthe: years` crop:` has been dis- J'R-Osevd-.Ofp

gforehthe baskets of tobacco are: placed (W123i l,to be reiiiovedfromthe Warehouses,

i rbwlsnonptheffloor, of the Warehouse, theA an employee of thebuyer removes the triplicate copy of the tag or card from each basket of tobacco and signs the buyers name thereon as a record showing the buyer to Whom the tobacco is delivered. This signed tripliT 5 cate tag or card is retained by the sales Warehouse. The original and duplicate tags or cards remain on each basket of tobacco, giving the buyer a record When it is received at his private Warehouse.

The selling and handling method described, if it is to beproiitable to the Warehouse owner, requires a Warehouse having considerable door space area and a relatively large number of men in order to handlev any appreciable quantity of tobacco during a given period, say an ordinary working day between the hours of 9 AM. and 5 P. M. The business of sellin at auction can hardly be made to pay un ess a relatively large quantity of tobacco can be sold each day because it is sold on a commission basis.

By the present method of selling it will be clear that the quantity of tobacco sold during each session or day will depend very largely upon the floor space of the Warehouse, and in addition to this limitation in the sales possibilities per sessionl or day, the prevailing method requires the employment of a relatively large number of mento handle the tobacco, and besides the procedure is laborious and tiresome to the Warehouseman, his auctioneer, his clerks and the buyers who must walk up and down the aisles between the tobacco baskets until all the baskets ot-V tobacco have been sold.

The objects of the pres-ent invention are to facilitate the handling and vsale of commodities, such as tobacco, inthe auction Waren house; to lessen the floor space required by being able to stack the tobacco, by placing several baskets of tobacco on top of each other; to expedite and lessenthe cost ofmaking sales, thus allowing for the Sale of a greater quantity in a given ,time and at less expense, because fewer `laborers are required; to render the selling operation less tedious and tiresome to the Warehouseman, hisnauctioneer, his vclerks and the purchasersLa'nd to otherwise aid the Whole operation. Y

To this end my invention comprises an auction warehouse with ample storage space for the commodity to be sold, transporting means therein so constructed and arranged that the commodity to be sold, such as tobacco, will be transported from a receiving station thru or past a selling station, constructed in a manner and of materials t give a maximum of daylight, where the Warehouseman, his auctioneer, clerks and the purchasers may be comfortably located, to a plurality of delivery stations where the sold commodity may be easily removed from the said means and quickly loaded onto motor trucks or other conveyances to be hauled away.

The improved apparatus, While particularly designed for use in tobacco auction Warehouses, is equally applicable in other auction rooms, wherein a large number of articles are to be sold in succession. The invention includes as its essential features, a receiving station, where ample storage facilities are provided for the articles, as, for instance, the tobacco to be auctioned; a plurality of delivery stations, and a selling station, together with some means enabling the articles to be transported from the receiving station to the delivery station, through or past the selling station.

Any preferred type of transporting means may be used. rhe merchandise is transported in lots, as, for instance, tobacco in baskets, past the selling station, in condition such that it may be easily inspected by the prospective buyers, to enable them to determine whether or not to bid upon a lot or lots. The delivery stations are preferably provided with some type of distributing means, in order to enable the lots to be quickly set aside or removed, to preventI interference with succeeding lots, as they arrive.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. l is a plan View of a Warehouse floor, with the walls in section constructed in accordance With the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4- is an enlarged detail in side view of a part of the conveyor.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in transverse section at the delivery end of the conveyor.

Fig. 6 is a detail in plan of a part of one of the chains of the conveyor.

Fig. 7 is a plan vieW of another arrangement.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail in section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail in side view at the delivery end.

Fig. 11 is a similar view at the receiving end.

In the present case two preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, the principal difference between them being the arrangement at the delivery end for distributing the lots or containers.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the warehouse, the side and end walls of which are indicated at l and 2, respectively, have appropriate door openings 3, and a driveway 4 is provided at each side of the building just inside the adjacent side wall, each driveway opening at each end of the warehouse. Inside driveways are, however, optional, as outside driveways may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the usual arrangement, as previously pointed out, the tobacco in suitable containers, such as baskets, indicated at 6, is arranged upon the iioor of the warehouse, being delivered from vehicles on the driveway, and these baskets are stored on the fioor until the time of sale, when the auctioneer, and interested parties, travel about the floor space, dealing with the individual baskets.

In the present instance, a selling station which may be in the form of a room or cornpartment 7, is provided Within the warehouse, preferably somewhat near the center, and this compartment has Windows 8, as shown, and a door opening 9, enabling access thereto. lVhile a separate room or compartment has its advantages, it is not absolutely essential. A transporting means, indicated generally at A and of any desired construction, is arranged to convey the tobacco from the receiving end of the warehouse, at the right of Fig. 1 to the delivery end at the left of Fig. 1, and the conveyor passes through the compartment 7, as shown, openings 10 being provided for enabling the passage.

Seats 11 are provided Within the compartment at the opposite sides of the conveyor, for the buyers, and other interested parties, and the travel of the conveyor through the compartment is controlled from a controlv stat-ion indicated generally at l2, the arrangement being suc-h that the speed of the conveyoi` may be controlled, and it may be stopped and started at will, if desired, for any purpose. At the delivery end of the conveyor the baskets of tobacco are removed therefrom, and are preferably disposed laterally with respect to the conveyor. There are usually some rejects, that is, some baskets of tobacco, Which do not find a sale, and means is provided preferably in line with the conveyors movement, for receiving the rejects at the delivery end..

In the present construction, the transporting means is in the form of a conveyor composed of two endless chains, similarly arranged, side by side, spaced apart laterally from each other, and connected in a manner to be described. Each chain is composed of pairs 16 and 17 of links, the pairs 16 alter: nating with the pairs 17. AThe ends of each .i pair,16 areE pivotally connected to the adja- ,suitable sprocket wheels 13, mounted in sup-1.

porting brackets 14. At the receiving end, thersprockets 13 are preferably arranged` below the level of the floor 15, so that the.

- upper run of the conveyor is substantiallyr flush with .the floor level. As the conveyor 15 approaches, the compartment 7, the level of. the upper run is preferably raised to ap.

proximately ten inches, and held at this height until it passesv beyondthe selling station or compartment, as shown in Fig. 2.

Thus Within the compartment it is at a suitable height to enable the tobacco in the baskets` supported thereon to be readily inspected by buyers inthe compartment.

Beyond the compartment 7 the level of the upper run of the conveyor is again raised to approximately thirty inches, and this level is maintained to the delivery end. In practice, vthe lowerrun of the conveyor is substantially parallel with the upper run, and each chain is provided with rollers 21 bei tween the members of the pairs of links at ,i the pi-votal connections, and the rollers run upon angle plates 23, supported by a suitable framework ,indicated generally at 24, and 3i. ofany desired character.; The angle plates 23 .extend the full length of the upperand theilower runs of the conveyor, so that each echa-in has guided movement throughout its extent, both as to the upper and to the lower run.

The conveyor may be driven by any suitable motor, as for instance, the electric motor 25, which is connected to the shaft 26, supporting the sprocket wheels at the delivery .end of the conveyor by any suitable connection. The baskets of tobacco, or other commodity to be sold, are placed on the upper run of the conveyor by attendants, and are carried to and through the selling station 50. orcompartment 7, which contains the auc- V tioneer, his clerks, and the buyers. Each lot that is sold is provided with a tag or ticket a indicating the buyer, and the speed with which the containers move through the compartment may be nicely regulated bythe auctioneer, or some other person in the compartment.

The tobacco sold is removed fromthe conveyor at delivery stations located near the G9 delivery end, being pushed ofi thev conveyor i onto thefplatforms indicated generally at4 27. each of which may be provided with rollers 28, vover lwhich the tobaccok containers, may

.move easily, as shown inr Figs. 1 and 5. The,

fluplatforms extend laterally from Aboth sides .containers of tobacco arrive at the appropriate platform, they are removed from the conveyor as indicated by the tickets connected therewith. If a truck is at that moment in position to receive a load, the containers are pushed out along the platforms, moving on the rollers 28, and are loaded onto the trucks.

A If no truck is available, they may be stored vmay be removed to the floor of the warehouse.

It will be noticed, referring to Fig. 5, that each of the platforms 27 is supported by afg 95 suitable framework 32.

In operation, the tobacco as it is delivered to the warehouse, is stored on the floor, until the time to sell. At this time, the baskets of tobacco are placed one by one on the transe; porting means, and the buyers, and the auctioneer and his attendants being in the compartment 7, the conveyor begins to move the baskets through the compartment.

The speed may be nicely controlled, to give. ample time for inspection and sale, and as each load is bid 0H", a ticket indicating the ownership is attached to the basket. At the delivery stations indicated by the unloading platforms, there are attendants, who removethe ticketed baskets at the appropriate platforms, from whence they are removed by the trucks 31, and eventually delivered to other means of conveyance on the driveway.

In Figs. 7 to 11, another embodiment of the 115 invention is shown. By this arrangement, the buyers colnpartment 3.3, corresponding to compartment 7, is arranged within the warehouse in the same manner as the compartment 7, and is similarly provided with seats, door and Window openings, and a control for the conveyor to be described. The transporting means runs through the compartment 'from end to end thereof, and is composed of endless chains 34, supported at suitable intervals by sprocket wheels 35, mounted on shafts 36, journaled in a framework 37.

The chains are similarly arranged, in parallel laterally-spaced relation, and the shaft 36 at the delivery end of the conveyor is con- 130 nected by suitable belts or gearing to a motor 38. The shaft 36 at the inlet end is adjustably mounted in its bearings, in the manner shown in Fig. 11. The shaft is journaled in blocks 39, which are slidable in guides 39', and screws 4() are threaded through the frame and are rotatably connected with the blocks. It will be apparent that by turning the screws, the shaft may be moved toward or from the shaft at the delivery end, whereby to tension the chains. The chains are connected at suitable intervals by cross rods 41, and the upper and lower runs of the chains move along angle guides 42 on the frame 37. The baskets 43 of tobacco are seated on the chains, in front of the rods 4l, as indicated in Fig. 9, so that the rods assist in moving the baskets.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be noticed that the upper run of the conveyor is substantially level from its inlet end to a point beyond the compartment 33. The delivery end of the conveyor is then inclined upwardly, as shown in Figs. 8 and l0, the inclination being obtained by inclining that part of the frame 37. A turntable 44 is arranged at the delivery end of the conveyor, in a position such that the baskets may pass from the upper end of the conveyor onto the table, and the table may or may not be rotatable on a support 45 on the iioor of the warehouse. A plurality of delivery stations in the form of platforms are arranged about the turntable, the platforms diverging from the table as shown, at various angles. Each platform may consist of a suitable framework 46, supporting the platform bars 47, and rollers 48 are journaled on the bars 47, the said bars inclining downwardly as shown.

Referring to Fig. l0, it will be seen that tension rollers 49 are provided for the lower runs of the chains at the motor or delivery end, these rollers being supported fr om the frame. The connection between the motor 38 and the shaft 36 at this end is by means of a chain and sprocket connection 50; In the present instance, the compartment roof is railed in. as shown at 5l, and a stairway 52 is provided for enabling access to the roof. In case of many buyers, some may be accommodated on the roof, a longitudinal opening being provided above the conveyor for permitting inspection of the tobacco carried thereby.

In operation, it being understood that the embodiment just described is arranged in the Warehouse, the tobacco from the growers, is deposited as above described. and during the auctioning of the tobacco, the baskets are placed on the conveyor, and are moved through the buyers compartment. As each lot is sold, it is tagged. as above described, and when the baskets pass onto the turntable, they are removed to the several platforms, in accordance with the name of the buyer, a

platform being assigned to each buyer, or each buyer of large quantities. The operation is practically the same as in the embodiment shown in Fig. l.

While I have shown and described two embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent that other arrangements may be employed without departing from the broad spirit thereof, as herein described, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to either of the constructions shown and described and this has special referenoe to the two conveyor constructions illustrated, as any suitable transporting means may be employed for the purpose.

While the transportation means shown in Fig. 1 is elevated above the floor line, and arranged to move at different levels, it is apparent that this is optional. It may be at floor level, and on the same level throughout if desired. It will be understood that after the tobacco is sold in the improved warehouse, the same procedure is followed in marking the tags which are carried by the baskets, and in entering the information on the tags in the books and bills of sale.

What is claimed is l. An auction warehouse comprising a main floor having a receiving station at one end with provision for storing a quantity of A' the commodity to be sold, a selling station intermediate the ends of the Warehouse, a plurality of delivery stations at the other end of the warehouse, and an endless conveyor leading from the receiving stationA through the selling station and terminating at the delivery stations, the upper run of said conveyor being at substantially floor level at the receiving station.

2. An auction warehouse comprising a main floor having a receiving station at one end with provision for storing a large quantity of the commodity to be sold, a selling station intermediate the ends of the warehouse, and a plurality of delivery stations near the other end of the warehouse, and an endless conveyor leading from the receiving station through the selling station and terminating at the delivery stations, the upper run of said conveyor being at substantially 'floor level at the receiving station, and at a higher level at the delivery stations.

3. An auction warehouse for the sale of tobacco, comprising an enclosure having a main floor providing a receiving station at one end of the Warehouse having suficient floor area to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, a selling station arranged substantially centrally of the main Hoor and provided with accommodations for an auctioneer, his clerk and buyers, travelling transporting means for conveying a train of the tobacco containers successively from the receiving station through the selling station to near the other llO taclesof-sold tobacco from the conveying me'ansto fthe separate delivery exits.

4. Anauction warehouse for the sale of tobacco,l comprising an enclosure having a main Hoor providing a receiving station at one end bf'thetvvarehouse having sufficient floor area to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, an enclosed selling station arranged substantially centrally of the main floor having openings at "its opposite ends and provided with accommodations for an auctioneer, his clerk and buyers, endless conveying means for transporting a train of the tobacco containers successively from the receiving station through said opening in the selling station to near the other end of said Warehouse floor, a plurality of'separate delivery exits at said last-named end of* the Warehouse, and a plurality of Wheeled transporting means for transporting the receptacles of sold tobacco from the conveying means tothe separate delivery exits. one leading to each exit.

5. An auction Warehouse for the sale of tobacco, comprising an enclosure having a main Afloor providing a receiving station at one end of the Warehouse having suiiicient Hoor area to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, a selling station arranged substantially cen- 35."trallyof the main iioor and provided with accommodations for an auctioneer, his clerk and buyers, endless conveying means movable over the Warehouse fioor for transporting a plurality of the tobacco containers successivesly from the receiving station through the selling station to near the other end of said Warehouse i'loor, a separate delivery exit at opposite sides of said last-named end of the Warehouse, and a plurality of means at opposite 'sides of the conveying means for transporting the receptacles of sold tobacco from the conveying means to the separate delivery exits, one leading to each exit.

6. An auction Warehouse for the sale of tobacco, comprising an enclosure having a main floor providing a receiving station at one end of the Warehouse having sufcient floor area to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, a

selling station arranged substantially centrally of the main floor and provided with accommodation for an auctioneer, his clerk and buyers, endless conveying means for transporting the tobacco containers succes- GO sively from the receiving station through the selling station to near the other end of said Warehouse floor, delivery exits at said lastnamed end of the Warehouse, and a plurality of means for transporting the receptacles of sold tobacco from the conveying means to said delivery exits, a portion of said endless conveying means at the receiving end of the Warehouse being at substantially floor evel.

7. An auction Warehouse for the sale of tobacco, comprising an enclosure having a main iioor providing a receiving station at one end of the Warehouse having suficient floor area to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, a selling station arranged substantially centrally of the main floor and provided With accommodations for an auctioneer, his clerk and buyers, an endless conveyor movable over the floor of the Warehouse for transporting the tobacco containers successively from the receiving station through the selling station to near the other end of said Warehouse floor, a plurality of delivery exits at said last-named end of the Warehouse, tracks leading from the conveyor to each exit, Wheeled trucks movable over said tracks for transporting the receptacles of sold tobacco from the conveying means to the separate delivery exits, and a manually operable controller at the selling station for regulating the movement of the conveyor.

8. An auction Warehouse for the sale ot tobacco, comprising an enclosure having a main floor providing a receiving station at one end of the Warehouse having sufficient floor area to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, a selling station arranged substantially centrally of the main floor and provided With accommodations for an auctioneer, his clerk and buyers, an endless conveyor movable over the floor of the Warehouse for transporting the tobacco containers successively from the receiving station through the selling station to near the other end of said Warehouse iioor, a plurality of delivery exits at said last-named end of the Warehouse, tracks leading from the conveyor to each exit, Wheeled trucks movable on said tracks for transporting the receptacles of sold tobacco from the conveying means to the separate delivery exits, and receiving platforms adjacent the delivery end of the said endless conveyor onto which the receptacles of tobacco may be loaded for delivery on to said trucks.

9. An auction Warehouse for the sale otl tobacco, comprising an enclosure having a main Hoor providing a r-eceiving station at one end of the Warehouse having suiiicient floor space to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, a selling station arranged substantially centrally of the main floor and provided With accommodations for an auctioneer and buyers, an endless conveyor for transporting the tobacco containers successively from the receiving station through the selling station to near the other end of said Warehouse fioor, a portion of said endless conveyor being at substantially floor level at the receiving station, and at a higher level at a point beyond the selling station, receiving platforms adjacent the conveyor at the receiving station, and a plurality of means for transporting the receptacles of sold tobacco from the said platforms to the said delivery exits.

l0. An auction warehouse for the sale of tobacco, comprising an enclosure having a main floor providing a receiving station at one end of the warehouse having sufficient lioor area to store a large number of open top receptacles containing the tobacco to be sold, a selling station arranged substantially centrally of the main floor and provided with accommodations for an auctioneer and the buyers, an endless conveyor for transporting a train of tobacco containers successively from the receiving station through the selling station to near the other end of said warehouse floor, a plurality of separate delivery exits at the opposite sides of the last-named end of the warehouse, separate tracks leading from the conveyor to each exit, and a plurality of wheeled trucks movable on said tracks for transporting the receptacles of sold tobacco from the conveying means to the respective delivery exits.

1l. An auction warehouse comprising a main floor having a receiving station at one` end with sufficient floor area to store a large number of stacks of portable receptacles containing tobacco to be sold, a plurality of unobstructed delivery stations at the other end of the warehouse at which the sold tobacco may be delivered to b-e loaded into vehicles to be carted away, a selling station located intermediate the ends of the warehouse floor, and of suflicient size to provide seating accommodations for an auctioneer, his clerk, and a number of buyers, travelling transporting means movable over the door of the warehouse and leading from the receiving station, through the selling station, to a position substantially opposite the said delivery stations to transport a succession of tobacco receptacles through said selling station, and a plurality of wheeled trucks each movable along a separate path from adjacent that portion of the transporting means located beyond the selling station to one of said delivery stations, whereby the separate receptacles containing the sold tobacco may be readily transferred from the transporting means onto the trucks to be delivered at the said delivery stations.

12. An auction warehouse comprising a main floor having a receiving station at one end with suiiicient floor area to store a large number of stacks of portable receptacles containing tobacco to be sold, a plurality of unobstructed delivery stations leading from the other end of the warehouse at which the sold tobacco may be delivered to be loaded into vehicles to be carted away, a selling station located intermediate the ends of the warehouse floor and of suflicient size to accommodate an auctioneer, his clerk and buyers, traveling transportation means movable over the floor of the warehouse and leading from the receiving station through the selling station to positions substantially opposite the said delivery stations to transport a succession of the receptacles containing tobacco through said selling station, a plurality of platforms adjacent the traveling transporting means at the delivery end thereof and onto which the receptacles of tobacco may be loaded from off the transporting means, and a plurality of wheeled trucks each movable along a separate path from one of the said platforms to one of the said delivery stations, whereby the separate receptacles containing the sold tobacco may be readily transferred from the platforms onto the trucks to be delivered at the said delivery stations.

Signed at New York City in the county of New York and State of New York this 5th day of Mav, A. D. 1930.

DoGLAs W. BRASHEAR. 

